Topic: sinus infections

Cold-Season Salvation: The Neti Pot?

Cold-Season Salvation: The Neti Pot?

I admit: For years, I’ve been skeptical of the Neti pot—a tool for ‘nasal saline irrigation‘ that looks like a small teapot or genie lamp and uses a salt and water solution to flush out the passages of your nose. I have friends who swear by the Neti pot as a natural way to deal with sinus problems, allergies and colds, but the whole process has always seemed complicated and kinda gross to me. This morning, however, I woke up with a scratchy throat, an achey head and a stuffy, itchy nose (hello, fall cold!). Hot tea and a hot shower are nothing doing. Could I find salvation in the dreaded Neti pot? Can you? Read on for our overview of the Neti pot—what it is, how it works, why use it—accompanied by some lovely photos of Neti pot users. Yes, Neti potting it is probably something you’ll want to do in private.

More »

Use Chili Peppers To Fight Sinus Problems

Use Chili Peppers To Fight Sinus Problems

Hot chili peppers could help ease symptoms of a sinus infection, even if you hate spicy food.

University of Cincinnati allergy researchers found nasal spray made from capsicum, an ingredient in hot chili peppers, helped relieve nasal congestion, sinus pain and sinus pressure within a minute of being used. “Basically, we concluded that the spray was safe and effective on non-allergic rhinitis,” said study leader Jonathan Bernstein, and this is important because “we don’t really have good therapies for non-allergic rhinitis.” More »

Health Care: Why I Love the CVS Minute Clinic

Health Care: Why I Love the CVS Minute Clinic

Three years ago, I was five months into life with my first kid, starting a new part-time gig, and smack in the midst of perfecting a book proposal. I was overworked, overtired, and completely overwhelmed. And then I got sick. Not stuffy nose and sore throat kind of sick, but lie-down-on-the-floor-because-the-room-spinning-and-I-forgot-my-name sick. That’s when I realized that I didn’t have a doctor. Well, at least not one I could call at a moment’s notice.

Desperate and miserable, I remembered a friend telling me about the CVS Minute Clinic (available in 24 states and D.C.) and, fever rising, I drove directly to the nearest location and promptly passed out in the pharmacy (true). After I regained consciousness, downed a Coke, and stretched out on the exam room’s foldout table, I was tended to by not one, but two nurse practitioners. They determined the cause of my collapse (a blood-pressure drop due to some cold medication); they diagnosed me with double ear infections and a bad upper respiratory infection. Then they called my Dad (my husband was an hour away at a work meeting) to come pick me up. Prescriptions in hand, I climbed into the car and was driven home. The next day I received a call on my cell phone from the clinic making sure that I hadn’t had any more fainting spells. A week later, I received a handwritten note in the mail from the nurse practitioners, thanking me for coming in and making sure that I was feeling better. More »